Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes with Leeks and Sausage

Good morning y’all from the Hungry Southern Belle house! Is everyone ready for Thanksgiving? We finished our menu planning and big grocery shop and are ready to start prepping, baking, roasting and cooking a delicious feast. If you are still in the final stages of menu planning, here is a special sweet potato treat that makes a fabulously filling main course dish or would make a fun side dish option served along side another protein like turkey or chicken. The original recipe (courtesy of Fine Dining) calls for savory ingredients but you could easily play around with the toppings and turn it into a cinnamon and sweet treat to delight your Thanksgiving guests. Enjoy y’all!

Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes with Leeks and Sausage

(recipe courtesy of Fine Dining – Serves 4 as a main course; 8 as a side dish)

Instructions:

Tip:

Sweet potatoes have thin, delicate skin that tears easily, so don’t scrape too hard when scooping them out. Leaving 1/8 inch of flesh in each shell will keep it from flopping closed.

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 375°F. Line a heavy-duty rimmed baking sheet with parchment or foil.

Poke the sweet potatoes a few times with the tip of a knife and arrange them on the baking sheet. Bake until completely tender when pierced in the fattest part with a skewer, 35 to 60 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage, reduce the heat to medium, and cook, breaking it into small bits with the edge of a slotted spoon, until no longer pink, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside.

Pour off all but 1 Tbs. of the fat and add the butter. When it melts, add the leeks, sage, thyme, and 1-1/2 tsp. salt. Cook, stirring stirring, until the mixture just starts to sizzle. Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring frequently, until the leeks are very soft and starting to turn golden, 10 to 15 minutes.

When the sweet potatoes are cool enough to handle, carefully cut them in half lengthwise and gently scoop the flesh into a medium bowl, leaving about 1/8 inch of flesh in the shells.

Mash the scooped flesh with a fork or potato masher until smooth. Stir in the sour cream and 1 tsp. salt. Fold the sausage and leeks into the mashed sweet potato and season to taste with salt.

Position a rack 6 inches from the broiler element and heat the broiler on high. Mound the filling into the potato skins and top with the cheese. Put the potatoes in a 9×13-inch baking dish and broil until the cheese is golden, about 4 minutes. Serve immediately.